Bolts shore up LB corps

San Diego sees NIU standout English as way to ratchet up pressure on QBs

Larry English, who was drafted to play outside linebacker for the Chargers, had 31&#189; sacks and 63 tackles for loss in 50 games for NIU. He'll join Shawn Merriman and Shaun Phillips in what the team hopes is a dynamic pass rush. &#160; (2007 file photo / Associated Press)

Larry English, who was drafted to play outside linebacker for the Chargers, had 31½ sacks and 63 tackles for loss in 50 games for NIU. He'll join Shawn Merriman and Shaun Phillips in what the team hopes is a dynamic pass rush. (2007 file photo / Associated Press)

The 6-foot-2 English, who said he weighed in at 256 pounds this week, dominated the Mid-American Conference much of the past four seasons and was that league's Player of the Year the past two seasons.

English plays a position and possesses a skill set that could help him get on the field and contribute quickly. Even if he doesn't immediately grasp all the nuances of the NFL and this defense, he knows how to get in the backfield.

The selection of English should not be read solely – right away, at least – as the Chargers looking beyond Merriman's time here.

Merriman's contract is up after this season, but he likely will be here in 2010 – either because the possible uncapped '10 season would mean he was a restricted free agent or because the Chargers would place the franchise tag on him.

English could well be the one to replace Merriman, but that is not the only reason he was drafted.

Rather, the Chargers are excited by the thought of both English and Merriman on the field along with Phillips.

“The biggest thing for us is enough guys who can put pressure on the quarterback,” coach Norv Turner said. “You look at the way teams attack us, they don't line up in two tight ends and two backs and run the ball 40 times in a game.

“We've had the most passes thrown against us in the past five years. Last year, over half our snaps were in some sort of sub package against a three-and four-wide receiver set. So we felt a real urgency to create situations where we can put more pressure on the quarterback. Obviously, getting Shawne Merriman back will help us greatly there, but adding a rusher we thought would certainly help us.”

The Chargers faced 605 passes in 2008, second-most in the NFL. Their one sack per 22.6 pass plays was 28th. The 4,090 yards they allowed were second-most, and 25 passing touchdowns fourth-most.

“I don't care who you are, you can only cover so long,” Turner said. “If you can't pressure the quarterback in this league you're going to struggle. We think Larry can come in here and as a young player play a lot of snaps of football. We're not going to get caught up on saying (he's a starter or not). People want your No. 1 draft pick to be a starter. If he comes in and plays 500 or 600 snaps in our nickel packages and can be productive that would be a great plus for us.”

Much of the Chargers' sack drop-off (from 42 in 2007 to 28 in '08) could be attributed to Merriman missing the final 15 games after major knee surgery.

But the Chargers have wanted to ratchet up the pass rush since leading the league in sacks in 2006. They had packages last summer in which Merriman, Phillips and Jyles Tucker were in together. Now they have presumably upgraded that package.

“Merriman coming off one edge and English off another and Shaun Phillips moving around and using some of the stuff (defensive coordinator) Ron (Rivera) likes to do,” Turner said, “we can create some real problems for offensive football teams.”